My chemo has to be postponed tomorrow-low platelets!

EZLiving66 said:

(((Nancy))) I'm so sorry but

(((Nancy))) I'm so sorry but postponing the chemo is certainly for the best.  One of the side effects of chemo is death and even "staying hydrated" is no treatment for that.  There's a reason they won't do chemo when your body is still trying to recover from the last one!!!  I worry that only having three chemos did not knock out those microscopic cells floating around but....it wasn't worth destroying my liver.  Hopefully you will recover by Monday and can continue the chemo.  

Fight on my friend!!

Love,

Eldri

It is not uncommon to have chemo treatments delayed due to blood levels.  If you haven't already, please read the 'Ladies going thru chemo' thread. You will see several ladies had delays.  There are very good reasons to listen to your body.  And, I hate to tell you but you will most likely stay on the no energy train. It is frustrating but as I was reminded several times by these smart ladies..... We are asking our bodies to do a lot.  I finished chemo 12/21 and I'm still working on building up my energy!

Stay strong and be patient with yourself.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Gardena said:

Hi Nancy

Don't give up, instead be mad and vent here. :-) As already mentioned,  your body is going thru alot and needs rest just as much as it needs meds. I have had five rounds of tax/carbo. Infusions #3 & #4 were delayed a week-- #3 due to a low white blood count and #4 due to low platelet count.  This past Sunday I had my 2 week post chemo blood checked per usual only to find my hematocrit (red blood count) was 22% and I required a blood transfusion.  So, back to the cancer center I went on Monday for an additional blood draw for a match and Tuesday morning I spent getting two units of blood. Unfortunately,  these bumps in the road happen. Please don't take any of the things happening to you as signs of treatment not being worth it. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Wishing you well~

As Gardena said, one step at a time.

Try and keep your head down and move forward. You can do this.

Red

molimoli said:

The 'bother' could be life preserving for a while longer

 than the do nothing ,"I AM FED UP" stance. Nancy we've all had our 'I want to scream'episodes ,sleep on it or set it down for a while you won't feel the same way tomorrow, the anger will subside and I hope the sad will up and leave you soon,soon,soon. We are all hugging you through this.,imagine us there my sister.

Blood work problems are part of the Chemo journey, You don't know how cancer will react to a minor delay, don't speculate ,it will fog up and crowd out sensible and practical thinking.

You have embarked on that treatment journey,unless there is major life threatening problems you should try to muster up the courage to stick with it. the reason being that if you stop now over this minor set back and things go worse than they are at present you will spend many lonely,sleepless nights blaming  and questioning your decision to let 'fed up' have it's way with you,influencing to your detriment.Never make decisions when fed up or afraid, it will bite you,I won't say where. 

Shake it off Nancy it's rights of passage,we've been there,yup! some of us have mastered the art of  shaking off,

Renewed strength and courage to fight, my wish for you. Moli. 

i had one before my 5th chemo in July 2012.  I wasn't happy but chanted my mantra, "this, too, shall pass".  Fast forward 3 1/2+ years and I'm doing fine.

unknown said:

I understand delays but?

This was to be only my 4th chemo, I'm only 1/2 way done.  Plus my platelets have been dropping steadily from 225 on Dec 10th, 179 on Dec 29th, 135 on Jan 20 to now 94 on Feb 10th.  That's a big drop without rebuilding.  Plus I'm really angry that I've not heard or been able to talk with my Doctor since he first set me up for chemo in Dec.  I think with something that changes my treatment course, HE should be the one to discuss this with me, not a nurse that I've never even talked with?  Even if my platelets somehow rebuild enough to be over 100 by next week, if they drop the 40+ points that they have been, how will I ever get chemo #5?  What if it takes a month or more to rebuild between each chemo, won't that erase any chemo gain on stray cancer cells.  I have never had a CT scan or PET scan, even when first diagnosed.  I've had 2 CA-125 lab tests, the first one the day I scheduled surgery was 85, the second one was during my 2nd chemo and that was 7.  That's the only test results I've ever had to tell me if I have any cancer left after surgery.  Shouldn't I have more?  I really think I'm getting ignored by my doctor and I'm mad.  Plus, since I couldn't sleep last night (again) I searched on the internet and found out that ibuprofen can cause a temporary drop in platelets.  Great!  They tell me to take ibuprofen for the pain, so since my legs were hurting, I've been doing just that.  The lady yesterday didn't bother to ask me if I was taking anything, she just said there was nothing that could be done about low platelets, and to try and retest next week.

I can understand your frustration, Nancy, especially regarding your doctor.  Can you call him or email him?  Is he totally non-responsive? I agree that I would want to hear changes from my doctor and be able to have a discussion about that. I saw mine every 3 weeks right before chemo where she would go over my bloodwork and discuss any side effects I was having.  I have read somewhere on this board about people getting blood transfusions for low blood counts?  I don't know how common that is, but it might be something to bring up.

Chris

Don't even speak like that, it's better to pospone than to have it and end up in the hospital.  Take care and just a few days the body will kick in.  All the best.

pinky104 said:

Donswife48

 I've never heard of Neumega.  I wonder if it's anything like Neulasta, with the similar beginning of the name.  I refused the Neulasta shot and I actually think I did better than a lot of people who had that.  I didn't have any of the bone pain that people who have had that seem to get.  I was one of the people who had to have a transfusion half way through my chemo.  I was able to have all of my chemos pretty much on time. I may have had to wait an extra day or two for the round after the transfusion, but that was it for delays.  My oncologist kept a pretty good eye on me, checking my bloodwork weekly. 

Before I started chemo, I was told I couldn't use any NSAID's at all during chemo--so no aspirin, Aleve, Motrin, or Advil.  They told me I could only use Tylenol.  It's easy to overdose on Tylenol, so you have to be extra careful taking that as it can cause liver damage if taken in higher than recommended strength.  In other words, follow the directions on the bottle and be careful to check any other meds you take, such as cold remedies, to make sure they don't also contain Tylenol. 

It's a really bitter day here in upstate NY.  Our windchills are supposed to be -3 degrees today and in Albany, which is south of here, -10 degrees this weekend.  I'm going to spend the day hanging out near our propane stove.      

I was also told at the beginning of chemo not to take any NSAID pain relievers because they contained blood thinners.  I was also told to stay away from caffeineI think for the same reason.

 My doctor told us that there is a Nuelasta for platelets, but that it wasn't yet approved for cancer patients.  we asked last week about platelet transfusions and were given a very substantial reason why that was not an option for me.  Old chemo brain here can't remember why anymore.

Lou Ann

unknown said:

Your NED status is inspiring

I just read your story on the 5 yr thread.  Good for you and thank you for sharing.  I think Neumega is by the same drug company as Neulasta.  Neulasta is for low WBC and Neumega is for low platlets.  I read up on it today and you're suppose to take it shortly after chemo and continue until 2 days before next chemo.  If I can get another chemo in, I'm requesting it for the rest of the treatments.  It has some nasty side effects, but so does cancer growing.  My chemo nurse said to disregard the warning about taking ibuprofen during chemo.  In fact they push it heavily for me because I have some pretty horrible nerve pain the first 5 days after chemo.  And I also have bad neuropathy in my fingers and feet.  I'm not going to take anything now, just tough it out, because I want to get to the end of these treatments. I'm going to get my blood retested tomorrow morning, so tonight I'm drinking carrot juice, eating a green salad with 1/4 cup sesame seeds over it, snacking on red skin peanuts, and finishing with two cuties.  After that I'm saying my nightly prayer and simply asking God to take my anger and concern away for today.  It's everything I can do.  Hugs Nancy

Like others have said, I was also advised to avoid Advil etc as well as to discontinue the use of Plavix. I found that the only thing that helped was taking oxycodone on the worse nights. I had lots left after surgery and it got me through some really rough nights. 

Your doctor needs to get off his high horse and give you some answers! If he is unwilling to do that, I agree you should start looking for a new oncologist. But, also, I think the 3rd chemo is really tough. I had to change chemos after the 3rd treatment, Eldri had to stop after her 3rd treatment and many others have mentioned that their blood counts tanked at that point. It seems like there is such a buildup of the chemo poisons that many of us are stopped in our tracks and need to step back or change direction. You are definitely not alone. I had never heard of Neumega but it sounds like a great advance. I hope it can help you.  In love and caring, Sandy